Shpeak only English Please!

Have you had your nails mani'ed or pedi'ed recently? Not me though! I dunno, I've never been regular in keeping my toe nails looking super cool! One thing that puts me off from going to the chinku nail place is not understanding what they talk.

Let me share what I felt !, Peelingsu!
The scene is me walking into a nail place!

Me: I want a pedicure!
Nail Girl ( NG): 10 mins wait please!
Me: Okay, flipping through all the magazines, got my fix of J lo's beach body and AJ's anorexic images

NG: come in!
 they start doing my pedicure. NG enages in a conversation with her chinku colleague!
Ng: anjong.. shankoung etc....
Me translating & thinking :  kaalai pardui! pedicure e paninadhillai pola irukku! eva kaalai pidikkanuma? tip tharuvanu ninaikkara..

 goes on and on till

NG: Ok All done $ 15 dhollars please!

It is natural for one to think that they are talking about you when you don't understand a word from their thiru vai!

I come out thinking " appada, all done1 i should look at some you tube videos and learn how to do pedicure!

Next day at work. My MA says , patient is ready in room 2! 2 yr old carlos has a fever.

I knock and enter the room. Carlos looks happy on mom's lap. Mom has had enough time to appify make up, lipstick etc, even though her son is very sick!  How come I never get time to do anything to keep myself pretty! Azhagu irundhadhane  enru think pannnuvadhu enakku theriyum!

Mom: Habla Espanol?
Me: No, let me get my MA

MA walks in. Ola, ola goes on!
I ask mom how long has Carlos has had the fever?

MA and Mom talk for atleast 2 mins in semma fast spanish.
MA looks at me tells fever for 1 day!
What the heck? yuo both were talking so long and you tell me 1 day

couple of semma long spanish conversations go on and i tell mom that Carlos has a cold and treat him with tylenol/ motrin etc.

Mom looks at me thinking is she " Loca"


Romba kodumaiappa, when you don't know what people are talking if you cannot understand!
so makkale, Sheak English please if you are in Us of A!

Kale Chips

Source: Mindbodygreen

Let us imagine you are at your local grocery store/ supermarket. You are intrigued by the dark green curly leaves sitting on your grocery store shelf. You are thinking ," Hm.. is it spinach, lettuce?" By this time you walk close to the aisle and read the label " Curly Leaf or Dinosur Kale". You think," oh well, whatever! i don't know how to cook it, never tasted it". I am sure DH or my kids won't eat this any way!You just pick up our good old spinach and move on!

I don't know about you, I surely have done this many times!  kale is on a abrgain now. So I had the courage to pick up a bunch! Your mood is , Heck, it is only $ 1.99 even if I waste it, i want to try it!

BTW kale has a lot of antioxidants, you know the same good stuff seen in Broccoli, sweet potatoes :))

And that is exactly what I did!
Found everyone raving about Kale chips and I had to make it!
So, Here it goes!

Get Ready

• 1 bunch of Kale
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoon dosai milagai podi ( can be replaced with chilli powder, chaat masala etc)
• Kosher salt to taste

Go

• Pre heat oven to 350 F. Line your cookie sheet with foil. helps with cleaning, trust me!
• Wash the bunch of kale and  rip the leaves into large bite size pieces. make sure you don't include the thick vein in the middle, as it is hard to chew!
• In a bowl add the oil and milagai podi.
• Add the kale leaves and gently toss them all so the oil and spices are well coated on the leaves.
• Arrange them separately on a baking sheet. Sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

• Bake for 15 mins or till the leaves are crispy.

Let them cool and store them in an air tight box.

Snack on them as much ( not much with 1 bunch though) you want guilt free!

Paalada Pradhaman

Hope you all are enjoying spring! Not so great for people with allergies huh?


Here is an ultimate payasam/ kheer from Kerala. Palada Pradhaman is made with paal (milk), Ada ( partially cooked rice wafers). Ada pradhaman can be made with jaggery and coconut milk too. But My favorite is the milkier version.
You cook the ada in milk and get it reduced. Palada pradhaman has a milky flavor and takes some time to cook. But, let me tell you it is worth that time!

I had bought a packet of Ada from India which I used. I have not seen them in the grocery stores in USA. We enjoyed this for this Vishu/ Tamil new years's day!

Here is the recipe!

Get ready

• 5 cups 2% Milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup Ada
• 1 can Condensed milk
• Sugar to taste ( i used 4- 5 tsp at the end)

Go

• Cook the ada as per packet instructions. Boil 2 cups of water. turn the heat off and add the ada. cover and let it stand for 20 -25 mins. drain and set aside.
• Take a heavy bottomed pan, i used a small pressure cooker without lid.
• Add the 5 cups of milk, 1 cup of water, drained ada to the pan.
• keep stirring to avoid burning of milk. It will start to boil over. reduce heat and cook by stirring.
• milk has to reduce to almost half it's volume. This may take 25 -30 mins.
• Add the can of condensed milk and stir well.
• Add sugar as desired for taste.
• Let it come to a boil and turn the heat off.

Serving suggestions

No need for garnishing with cardamon, cashews etc.

serve warm or cold.

Savory Muffins 2/ Iyengar Bakery Nostalgia

Hello Friends and sorry for the long hiatus. 2012 wasn't particularly exciting for me! Ever since my last post in March 2012, I've had a really rough ride. The worst being losing my mother to breast cancer after 18 months of pain, suffering, chemo, radiation etc.
My mom was an inspiration for me to cook, and I miss her dearly. But I am happy that her sufferings have been put to an end. I know she is always there for me and my family in our thoughts and dreams.

So, here I am blogging in this new year. I missed you all friends and your mouth watering recipes!

How many of you recall the taste of" Khara bread/ khara bun" from  Iyengar's bakey. A totally new take on the usual sweet buns that we have all had growing up in India, right!
Here is my attempt to re create the same flavor.

I'm telling you all it tasted pretty awesome and was moist 2 days later too!

Here we go with the recipe!


Get Ready: ( makes 7 muffins)

• 1 cup All purpose Flour/ Maida
• 1 tbsp Baking Powder
• salt to taste ( start with 1/4 tsp)
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/4 cup vegetable Oil
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 tsp Vinegar
• 2 tbsp grated carrot
• 4 tbsp finely chopped red bell pepper
• 2 tbsp finely chopped onion
• 1 tbsp chopped Jalapeno pepper
• 1 tbsp chopped chives
• 
  
• 1/2 tsp oil to saute the veggies

Go:

• Pre heat oven to 375 F and line your muffin tin with liners.
• In a pan, add little oil and once hot saute the onion, carrot, jalapeno and red bell pepper for a few mins. turn heat off and set aside.
• Whisk all the dry ingredients together to incorporate well.
• In a bowl, crack the egg. Add the liquid ingredients into the egg and whisk well.
• Fold in the flour mixture, sauteed veggies to the wet ingredient. add salt as per taste.
• Pour 3/4 in the muffin cups and bake till a tooth pick inserted comes out clean for approximately 30 -35 mins.

Enjoy it warm with some butter spread or just like that.

One can add some Ajwain/ Carom seeds, Cilantro, Cumin seeds, whole pepper corns for some kick in the butt heat, or other herbs of your choice.

PS: The single balloon and present on the earlier picture was added by my 4 yr old. ( Er... tantrum made me do it :))

See, how fluffy it is inside!

Carrot Kosumalli / Carrot Kosambhari

Kosumalli is a light carrot salad, usually served in weddings. Crunchy carrots with a lemon juice, green chillies and spiced with asafetida and mustard seeds is sure a welcome taste amongst other feasts served in the weddings.

I used some moong dal to give extra crunch. It can be served as a side or main meal.

Get Ready ( serves 2 as a side)

• 1& 1/2 - 2 cups grated carrots
• 2 green chillies chopped fine
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp moon dal soaked in water for 20 mins and drained ( optional)
• 1 tsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• pinch of asafetida
• salt to taste
• cilantro ( optional)

Go:

• In a bowl add the carrots, salt, lemon juice, soaked moongdal and mix well.
• In a kadai, add oil, do the tadka with mustard seeds, asfetida and green chilli.
• pour it on top of the grated carrot, toss them all.
• garnish with cilantro.

Serve cold or at room temperature.



Sathu Ma Kanji Podi / Nutritious Porridge Powder- Healthy Breakfast on the go!

If you grew up in south India, you may be pretty familiar with this sathu ma kanji. It is a blend of various grains, dals and dried fruit flavored with some cardamom. It is cooked in water and milk and sweetened to be taken as a breakfast drink. It has the goodness of lot of grains and very nutritious.

I was getting tired of eating he same old cereal, oat meal etc in the morning.It takes a just a few minutes. pour it in your insulated coffee mug and you are good to start the day. Healthy breakfast to kick start your day is ready.

I used what ever was in my home to make this porridge powder. Most of these ingredients are available in whole foods or other super markets. Whole wheat grains  ( godhumai)are used, i did not have any and replaced it with atta :)

other things to add include, quinoa, flax seeds or powder, cashews, peanuts, walnuts etc!


Get ready

• 3 tbsp quick oats
• 3 tbsp sabudana/ tapioca pearls
• 3 tbsp pearl barley
• 3 tbsp millet/ ragi
• 3 tbsp whole wheat flour/ atta
• 3 tbsp parboiled rice (can replace it with brown rice)
• 3 tbsp sliced almonds
• 3 tbsp pottukadalai/ dalia dal
• 4-5 cardamom pods

Dry roast all ingredients separetly till golden, cool and powder them together till fine.
 store in an air tight container.

Add some honey/ sugar to the cooked porridge and a dollop of ghee and it's a perfect meal for your skinny toddler.

Sesame Peanut Rice / Ellorai

Sesame seeds and peanuts go together pretty well. I use this combo in subzi's and tastes so yummy. Ellorai/ ellu sadham is a standard offering/ neivedhyam in south indian temples. very simple combination of spices and tastes divine.
I jazzed it up by throwing some peanuts and this is perfect lunch box item. good hot or cold.

 

Get Ready: ( serves 2-3)

• 1 cup basmati rice cooked with 2 cups of water, and cooled
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup peanuts
• 2 tbsp channa dal
• 2 tbsp urad dal
• 2-3 red chilli
• 1/4 tsp asafetida
• 2 tbsp dry roasted unsalted peanuts
• 2 tbsp dry coconut
• 2 tbsp oil ( gingely oil will taste very good)
•  a few curry leaves ( optional)
•  salt to taste.

Go:

•  In a dry pan, toast the sesame seeds till they are golden, on low to medoim heat. set aside
• Add a little oil, and roast the channa dal, urad dal, red chilli till golden brown. turn the heat off
•  Coarsely powder the red chilli, asafetida,sesame seeds intially and then add the channa dal, urad dal, peanuts and coconut  to a coarse powder.
• Add  oil to the rice, the ground powder and mix well so the grains are separate.
•  serve with pappadums, chips or raita.